Urine bag and self-retracting drain tube therefor

Abstract

A urine collection bag includes an improvement in the form of an extendable drain tube that is normally retracted and retained in flat coiled condition against the front wall of the bag. The tube is biased into its coiled condition by the elastic memory of the thermoplastic material from which it is formed and, in a preferred embodiment, the flat coil is oval-shaped with its major axis extending generally vertically when the bag is worn. A retention strap attached to the front wall of the bag serves to hold the drain tube in its coiled condition against the bag's front wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A urine collection device comprising a flat bag adapted to be worn by a patient across the abdomen, said bag having front and rear walls of flexible thermoplastic joined to each other along top, bottom, and side edges to define a urine-receiving chamber; support means for supporting said bag from a patient's waist; a drain port located along said bottom edge and communicating with the interior of said bag; an inlet tube joined to said front wall above said drain port and adapted to be connected to a urethral catheter; and a one-way inlet valve communicating with said inlet tube for preventing flow in a reverse direction therethrough; wherein the improvement comprises an elongated flexible thermoplastic drain tube having first and second ends; said first end being connected to said drain port; said drain tube normally assuming a flat coiled condition and biased into said condition by the elastic memory of the thermoplastic from which said drain tube is formed; and retention means provided by said bag for holding said drain tube in flat coiled condition against the front wall of said bag. 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  in which said first end of said drain tube is detachably connected to said drain port. 
     
     
       3. The device of claims  1  or  2  in which said drain port is provided with manually operable valve means. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  in which said drain tube when in flat coiled condition is oval in outline. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4  in which said oval has a long axis extending generally vertically when said bag is worn. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  in which said retention means comprises a flexible strap traversing a mid section of said front wall of said bag; said strap having a central portion and a pair of opposite end portions; said end portions being secured to said front wall and said central portion extending over said drain tube and holding the same in coiled condition against the front wall of said bag.